4 Mar 2013

First Minister refuses to pledge pupils won’t lose out in new exam system

Why won’t Alex Salmond give a guarantee that no Scottish pupil will be disadvantaged with or by the introduction of the new exam system?I asked the First Minister to issue a personal guarantee pupils won’t be disadvantaged as a result of the introduction of new qualifications as part of the Curriculum for Excellence. His refusal to give that guarantee is telling. He simply tried to avoid giving a direct answer to a direct question .If the First Minister is confident that his Ministers have acted properly, then surely he should guarantee that no Scottish pupil will be adversely affected by the introduction of the new examinations? I fully support Curriculum for Excellence, but it’s clear the SNP Government has been complacent in the management of the introduction of this important change.The EIS survey has shown over half of the country’s teachers feel underprepared, that materials are not available and they are understandably worried about the effect this will have on their pupils. While I welcome any additional resources, it is the responsibility of the First Minister to make sure that teachers are properly resourced and the necessary materials are available. Scotland’s pupils and their teachers need to know the First Minster is willing to guarantee the success of the new system. Why won’t he give that simple guarantee?

Hugh Henry MSP

About Hugh

Hugh Henry is a Scottish Labour politician first elected a Member of the Scottish Parliament in1999 when he represented Paisley South. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Health and Community in 2001and moved to Deputy Minister for Social Justice in 2002. He became Deputy Minister for Justice after the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2003 and Minister for Education in 2006. Hugh collected the Scottish Politician of the Year award in 2010 and won the newly created Renfrewshire South seat in 2011. He was raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire and educated at St Mirin's Academy, Paisley, at the University of Glasgow and Jordanhill College in Glasgow. He has worked as an accountant, a teacher and as a welfare rights officer. He was a local councillor from 1984 until 1999, including four years as leader of Renfrewshire Council. He is married with two daughters and a son.